Prior to Marlon Sandro’s fight at Thursday’s Bellator 92 event, MMAjunkie.com’s Christian Stein headed to Brazil for a trip to the featherweight tournament participant’s home gym.

He captured images from inside Academia Upper Flamengo (formal name: Sport Site Club Upper) in Rio de Janeiro’s Flamengo neighborhood. The star-studded camp is home to the dominant Nova Uniao team.

The visit came in December 2012, just prior to early-year title wins by UFC champs Jose Aldo and Renan Barao, as well Bellator titleholder Eduardo Dantas. Invicta FC contender Claudia Gadelha also was in the gym, and Andre Pederneiras, Ronys Torres and Sandro oversaw the “shark tank” sessions.

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